Friday 21 May 2010

I have quit my job!! I am sad to be leaving as I've really enjoyed working at my employer overall. However, I work with someone who can only be described as a beast and I'd rather singe my eyebrows with a cigarette lighter than put up with it anymore. So hooray!!

It's been a long time since I updated Debauched - few reasons include general miserableness with all the work drama, some health issues I'd had etc; busy-ness with my wonderful boyfriend of 4 whole months!!; my dog-related issues.

We'll start with the dog...I got a companion for Jeff. At first, it was wonderful - I'd rescued her from the pound and she was a little cutie (in a very ugly kind of way). Anyway, after about 10 minutes of doting over her, I realised she was an absolute menace. She would wiggle her butt so much in order to push Jeff out of the way when it was time for any kind of attention. She was destructive too - ripped things to bits, chewed on everything and I believe she weed in the house out of spite. Anyway, after about 8 weeks of trying in vain to train her with positive & negative reinforcement and ignoring her completely at times, I realised it was to no avail and I had to surrender her to the pound. It was the most heartbreaking thing I've ever done, she was only a baby and they told me they'd need to put her down. :(

My health issues have been suitably annoying but are getting much better now. I've had all sorts of tests and seen specialists. I saw a "General Physician" at first - they had absolutely no idea what was wrong with me, so they sent me to a glorified GP...When I got there for my first appointment, his name was right above the word "Geriatrician". I was annoyed to have been sent to an old person's doctor. And even more so when he told me I was his only patient younger than himself! Anyway, I'm now at the point where I should have the final test soon to confirm my suspected condition - coeliac disease. It's annoying but very manageable through a gluten-free diet. But since I have to keep eating gluten till I have the final test, I'm currently experiencing a free-for-all where I am eating things I would normally consider off limits, and becoming quite plump as a result.

Because of my plumpings I've been trying to run as much as possible. I set myself a goal this week of 16km, and I am 4.7km away from achieving it with a plan to run tomorrow. (My running week goes from Sunday to Saturday.) It's been good actually to get back into running - I'd had about 6 weeks off completely, and before that with all my illness I'd been only running intermittently so it's been good to have a weekly goal and get a few good runs done each week.

Me and this new man (Mark) have been on for about 4 months now! Time has flown. He is great - he's really fun, an animal lover and really quite the spunk. The other week we had a lovely "date" - we went out for dinner and saw a movie. This is something I've never really had before - I've never really been on dates. Even though we spend basically every night together, he still makes the effort to ask me out, dresses up and takes me somewhere he know I'll like. He's a real catch!!

These days, Jeff can only be described as a cube. A cube-o-lab. He's SO adorable - he just has this beautiful little face, his cubesque body and his whole back half wiggles when he wags his tail. It never ceases to please and delight me how excited he is to see me whenever we've been apart for more than about 10 minutes. He's taken to leaping in the air when I let him in the house now; he just wants to touch his little wet nose to my palm. He follows me all around, which can get annoying when he's constantly under foot, but it's really very sweet. And the drool!! Whenever I am eating, preparing dinner or he can smell food within a 2km radius he gets this huge stream of drool out the side of his mouth. Sometimes both sides. When I put him outside, I could swear someone was out the trying to murder him the way he moans. When I take him around to Mark's (he's got two dogs that Jeff likes to play with) he's just as bad, but it's even worse because Mark's oldest dog cannot stand to be outside when we are inside. He does not understand that he is a dog, I'm sure of it. He shoves Jeff out of the way for pats with me when we're there too. He thinks he deserves all the pats because he is the biggest. He's pretty cute though and it's quite funny to watch Jeff jump around him and lick his chops all the time.

Tomorrow night I am holding a Sashimi night at my house. I'm quite excited actually - my whole family, apart from my wayward younger brother, is coming and it should be fun! I need to find some Sake from somewhere though - I've googled and found a couple that people have recommended so hopefully I can get one of those! I may have over-committed myself somewhat...I'm making Peking Duck Pancakes, Rice Paper Rolls, Sashimi (obviously!) and Teriyaki Chicken...we'll see what happens.

Guess that is all for now. Must revive The Ark. Must revive The Ark. Must revive The Ark.

- B xxx